Topic: Why Self Knowledge

Lately people have been asking: “Why should I find out about Self Knowledge. I am busy trying to pay my bills, run my business, and raise my family. Isn’t life busy enough without adding another thing called Self Knowledge?”

This shows how often we do the thing that’s right before our nose, without stopping to take a broader view of life. But if you want to live happily ever after, then it is important that you find out who you really are. That’s because the place we put our identity may seem like our joy, but in the end it could be our downfall too. The reason is that when we place our identity in an object that we see, we become too limited. It’s a shoe that doesn’t fit. If this seems confusing we can give some examples that will clarify it.

Is happiness equal to wealth?
It is easy to confuse happiness with wealth. So what if you identify as a wealthy businessman or woman. But wealth is not a constant thing. If your peace of mind rests in your wealth, even the slightest threat to your wealth, will seem to snatch your peace away. And just think of the misery when your wealth is gone and you have to face poverty. In the great depression many businessmen committed suicide. But there where some who found a deeper peace that was not affected by their wealth.

Once I was wealthy in fortune and fame. I had everything to compete in life’s game. But suddenly it happened I lost every dime, but I’m richer by far, with a satisfied mind.

From an old folk song

Or you can identify as a great athlete at the height of your professional career. But for some, the ups and downs in athletics can by told by the latest win or loss. And when you hit a slump, you really notice it as the numbers that measure your performance go down. Then your body begins to wear out and you can no longer do the wonderful things that you are used to. Lou Gerick, one of the greatest baseball players ever to live, got sick and lost his ability to play. If Lou was not able to find a deeper sense of peace than his identity as a baseball player, it would have felt as if his happiness was snatched away.

Identifying with the mind

Some people identify with the intelligence of their mind. They become doctors, lawyers and college professors. In fact they know themselves and their relationship to the world by this identity. But what happens when due to disease and death their mind starts to slip away and their perceived value starts to disappear? Then what can they do. The answer for them is your answer too. To know yourself as you really are.

Are you a mother or a daughter?
As a father or mother does your peace depend on the condition of your children? As a son or daughter does it depend on the condition of your mother or father? Now Self Knowledge is not the opposite of caring. It just allows you to return to original nature where you stand free from the ups and downs of the world.

So where does your worth come from anyway?
This is the peace that passes all understanding. This peace does not come from what you see. It comes from what you are. Here you see that your worth comes from your very identity; not from some job that you do or some thought in your mind.

And most amazing of all, this is a freedom that passes beyond the border of life and death. That’s because your identity was not created by your birth and will not be destroyed by your death. For a wealthy businesswoman on her deathbed her wealth will not help whatsoever. But standing here in your own identity you will see that nothing really changes and you be free. This is the diamond like freedom that lies at your very core.

So even now while you are relatively young and in good health, look within and enjoy the view from the source of happiness and peace. This will serve you always. Don’t wait until it is too late and you are left stuck in limitation. This is the why of Self-Knowledge.

Other resources available to you

If you need a more basic understanding of this Self-Knowledge or if you just want support for your practice, go to www.light-up-your-life.com and read down the main column. Also check out the different links that we provide as resources. They can help you to sharpen the focus of your meditation practice.

Another resource that we offer is the book, Making Your Wisdom Come Alive, a step by step guide taking you from your everyday experience to the highest wisdom and truth. To find out more, click on the link below:

wisdom.light-up-your-life.com

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Please Tell Your Friend
Please tell you friends. Although we don’t have an advertising budget, we hope that everyone who wants to can find out about and wake up to this wisdom.

Best Wishes,

Michael Gluckman